Thursday’s Mini-Report, 10.29.15

* China: “Driven by fears that an aging population could jeopardize China’s economic ascent, the Communist Party leadership ended its decades-old ‘one child’ policy on Thursday, announcing that all married couples would be allowed to have two children.”

* Holder speaks up: “Former Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday he disagrees with comments from FBI Director James Comey that suggested a connection between changes in police behavior and the homicide spike experienced by major American cities.”

* Camaraderie: “Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has kept a famously clean mouth throughout his long career. But that doesn’t mean the Mormon from Nevada doesn’t appreciate a good cuss out every now and then. Reflecting in his Senate office on his ‘special relationship’ with outgoing House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Reid recalled one particular moment that earned his respect.”

* The ratings weren’t as good as four weeks ago, but they’re better than four years ago: “CNBC attracted an average of 14 million viewers to its Republican presidential debate on Wednesday, the Comcast-owned business news network said in a statement on Thursday.”

* This seems like a good idea: “The White House, realizing that an extreme solar storm could jeopardize the nation’s vitality and security, released a strategy and multi-agency plan on Thursday to prepare for and coordinate responses to the space weather threat.”

* An unhelpful perspective: “Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has hit back at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for suggesting former President George W. Bush was to blame for 9/11.”

* GM: “After Fiat-Chrysler workers rejected a contract they viewed as inadequate and forced more concessions from the weakest of the Detroit Three automakers, expectations ran high for what workers at the stronger companies – Ford and General Motors – would be able to achieve on top of that. Now, contract details for GM show that the United Auto Workers got at least as good a deal.”

* And Jonathan Cohn explains in a helpful way “what Obamacare opponents get wrong – and right – about” the latest data on insurance premiums.